Finance Officer
Priestley College, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 6RD11 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
23 February 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
10 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- Administration, HR, data and finance
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: Up to full time, 37 hours per week (minimum 28 hrs per week) may be considered. Full year. Permanent. Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 16.30pm, Friday 8.30am to 16.00pm.
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Point 12 to Point 14 on the NJC Support Staff Pay Scale (£29,544 to £31,324)
What skills and experience we're looking for
Contract: Up to full time, 37 hours per week (minimum 28 hrs per week) may be considered. Full year. Permanent.Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 16.30pm, Friday 8.30am to 16.00pm.
Salary: Point 12 to Point 14 on the NJC Support Staff Pay Scale (£29,544 to £31,324)
Start Date: As soon as possible, subject to successful pre-employment checks including a DBS check or a check against the DBS Update Service if registered.
Responsible to: Cluster Finance Manager/ Principal
Reporting directly to the Principal, you will supervise the College’s day-to-day finance operations to ensure timely and efficient workflows. You will support the Cluster Finance Manager with reporting key data for higher level budget tracking and forecasting. You will ensure the finance office provides high quality customer service including effectively communicating with all stakeholders (e.g. budget holders, suppliers, staff and parent queries).
Job Responsibilities:
Financial Processing & Controls
To input and process transactions in relation to all areas of finance including purchase ordering, invoicing, supplier payments, credit control and banking.
To provide reports from the College’s financial systems as required for budget holders and the Senior Leadership Team.
To respond to and resolve supplier and staff queries.
To respond to and resolve staff, student and parent queries in relation to Scopay, the College’s online payment system.
To prepare timely and accurate sales invoices and send to customers ensuring appropriate credit control processes are followed.
To manage the College’s Petty Cash Systems.
To manage study, visit income and expenditure, liaising with members of staff when organising study visits.
To assist with the collection and banking of official monies within the College and ensuring they are accounted for in accordance with financial regulations.
To assist in the administration of the finances of the College activities not financed from public funds; maintenance of the accounts, ensuring necessary information is available, and the funds are controlled in accordance with proper accounting practice.
To ensure timely bookings for transport for college study visits and sports fixtures as well as oversee College minibus bookings.
To support Finance assistants by acting as an escalation point to resolve queries with all stakeholders (e.g. staff, suppliers, parents)
Ensure financial records are audit-ready and assist with the internal and external audit processes.
Collaboration with Central MAT Team
To act as a point of contact for the Cluster Finance Manager, providing updates on day-to-day matters arising
To assist with the financial year end process of the MAT
Team Leadership
To operationally line manage the Finance Assistants, providing support and training as required and complete annual performance reviews
To attend meetings relating to finance processes, seeking clarification and guidance from the Cluster Finance Manager where required
Act as the primary liaison between the Finance Office and College staff, holding regular catchups with key budget holders and attending meetings relating to finance processes including weekly attendance of the College Management/Business Support Management meeting
Contribute to improvements in administrative processes within the office.
Proactively communicate changes in financial procedures to all staff and parents, ensuring clarity and compliance across the College.
Ensure strong supplier relationships, intervening in disputed invoices or payment delays to prevent service interruption.
General
To share the College’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
To carry out all duties with due regard to confidentiality and data protection regulations particularly with regard to student data
To carry out all duties maintaining the highest levels of customer care and service and adhering to the Colleges’ safeguarding and security policies at all times
To carry out all other duties which are in accordance with the purpose and grade of the post as reasonably required by the college Principal and Cluster Finance Manager.
How to Apply:
Download the application form and complete it electronically (please note we are unable to accept CVs)
Applications close: Midday, Monday 23 February 2026
Interview date: will be held w/c 2nd March 2026
Email your application to hr@priestly.ac.uk or, if you are unable to complete it electronically, hand it in at our reception or post to - HR Department, Priestly College, Loushers Lane, Warrington, WA4 6RD.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
It is important you complete all relevant sections of the form accurately. Providing false information is an offence and could result in your application being rejected or, if you are elected, to summary dismissal with the potential for prosecution.
If you require assistance completing your application, or require information in a different format, please email hr@priestly.ac.uk
What the school offers its staff
At The Challenge Academy Trust wewant to embed a culture that champions better work and working lives across the Trust; a framework to support and develop our workforce from ‘hire to retire’. Our staff workload, wellbeing and benefits offer demonstrates our commitment to ensure we can:
- Provide a workload that is fair and reasonable.
- Foster an environment where employee health and wellbeing are actively supported and promoted.
- Develop employee’s personal and professional skills & knowledge continuously throughout their careers.
- Provide structured routes for career progression
- Reward people fairly with transparent and appropriate pay and conditions of service alongside additional benefits.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff, governors and volunteers to share this commitment. Our Safeguarding Policy and our DBS and Ex-Offenders Policy (incorporating our Policy Statement on the Secure Storage, Handling, Use, Retention and Disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure Information) can be accessed on the link to our website, as given above.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Priestley College
- School type
- Academy, ages 16 to 19
- Education phase
- Sixth form or college
- School size
- 0 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 16 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Priestley College website
- Email address
- hr@priestley.ac.uk
Priestley College is a founder member of The Challenge Academy Trust (TCAT) which currently consists of 9 schools and the College, working together to deliver a cohesive education pathway from primary through to
sixth form.
We are an inclusive college with a consistent record of high achievement. We offer around 70 A-Level and Vocational courses and we are a college of several firsts.
The quality of education we provide in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths was recognised when we became the first dedicated sixth form in the country to receive STEM-assured status.
In September 2020, Priestley was chosen to be among the first tranche of colleges to provide T-Levels. In the same year our rugby academy became the first in the UK to receive ‘dual status’ as both boys and girls were
excelling.
In its most recent OFSTED report the College was praised by inspectors who said ‘teachers ensure students develop the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in their qualifications and in their working life’.
In 2021 Priestley retained its matrix accreditation after an inspection found the quality of advice and guidance it provided met the internationally-recognised standard.
There are now over 2000 students at Priestley with the latest investment a £1.5M technology centre that boasts more than 200 computers. The Crescent Building has also been extended to provide extra café and
study space whilst the Performing Arts facilities have been modernised. More than £15M has been invested in the campus since 1999 on projects including the Learning Resource Centre and an all-weather sports pitch.
Priestley’s growth in numbers has also gone hand in hand with increasing the range and scope of provision as well as significant improvements in quality.
By responding to student demand and national curriculum development, we have been able to broaden the choice by offering new curriculum lines.
Priestley is not a college that stands still. All tutors and staff constantly look for ways to improve in order to make the biggest difference to the highest number of young people.
The College’s goal will always be to inspire, challenge and support its students to ensure they reach their full potential.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Warrington and Cheshire